The whole of Paige VanZant’s UFC career has taken place under the microscope.
From the time she burst onto the scene with a third-round submission win over Kailin Curran in November 2014, the now 24-year-old has been subjected to greater scrutiny and criticism than most athletes on the UFC roster.
Pushed as a potential star and placed into showcase opportunities almost immediately, many within the MMA community, including some of her contemporaries, bristled at every mention of the young fighter’s name. When she succeeded, her triumphs were instantly picked apart and when she failed, a surprising number of people rejoiced, reveling in seeing the highly marketable and still developing fighter falter.